Out of more than 400 received submission from grade 9 – 12 students across Canada, 18-year-old Ashley Ash from Toronto took home the $2,500 grand prize, as well as a $1,000 prize for her school, in recognition for her memoir “No One’s Girl,” based on her experience with foster care. Her essay has been published online at macleans.ca and she will be honoured on stage at the 2014 Hilary Weston Prize gala on October 14 at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

A second-place prize of $500 was awarded to 17-year-old Juliette Dandenault from Montreal for her offbeat piece on neighbourly bonds, “His Darlings, the Trees.” Third place, and $250, went to 16-year-old Janelle Rowsell from Kanata, Ontario for her account of growing up, “Paper Clocks.”

The essays by all three winners, and a selection of honourable mention recipients, are available to read on The Writer's Trust website.

Today at the CBC building in Toronto, media and book lovers gathered to hear from the authors and panellists selected for CBC Canada Reads: Turf Wars.

The 2013 incarnation of the competition features books from across the country, which for the purpose of the contest has been divided into five regions. Tens of thousands of Canadians weighed in during the first round of voting, which was open to the public. For a full list of the panellists and books, please see our Canada Reads announcement.